Abilify vs lamictal

Common Questions and Answers about Abilify vs lamictal

abilify

After flip-flopping with my Psych about me needing a mood stabilizer vs. an anti-depressant, 5 years ago I went on Depakote for nearly 4 years.....stopped.....things seemed fine, and so I started through the entire gamut of anti-depressants for the past 2 years and NOTHING has worked.
I am miserable and depressed and SO irritable all the time and alienating everyone around me because of these crazy outbursts I have.

Left the third hospitalization on Lamictal 450, Seroquel 300, and Abilify 100. Sick as a dog!
New psychiatrist finally listened to me. Cut down to Lamictal 200 only. Issue could no sleep. So back on seroquel 50. Still no sleep so 100. Doing really well now.
I hate it when doctors do not listen because two hospitalizations could have been avoided. My post-traumatic is way off.
In regards to the weight loss. When started Lamictal had trouble eating as well. Dropped some weight.

I think the lithium helped my memory return, though it made me sick and I went psychotic while taking it. Lamictal made me feel flat and I hallucinated ravens dive bombing my head on Abilify. My wife and I noticed that drugs either have way less affect on me or they really change me. I do think the meds helped me land back in the 3D world for sure.
I adjusted my life, which was way hard, and I got my affairs more in order. Then I decided, with my wives' approval, to stop all meds.

I'm currently on lamictal , Zoloft, zyprexa ,vistaril and trilifon....doc accidentally did not fill my vistaril 3 weeks ago before tracing out of country and for 5 days I felt GREAT...got it refilled last week . Wondering if I can take kava on top of all this as I still have some bad anxiety still.
Thank you...

I'm on Lamictal and now Abilify, and haven't noticed a difference in my appetite and have lost weight (I've been on the Lamictal for over a year, just got on the Abilify).
I took Depakote in the past and gained a lot of weight... but I, too, know those who haven't gained a pound on it. I have a feeling it was my college eating habits combined with the fatigue from new meds - and letting it run my life - that led to the gain.

hey, i have rapid cycling bipolar and am on a lot of medication, prozac, lithium, lamictal, seroquel. i have put on a lot of weight since going on these meds, ive practically doubled in size! im coming off prozac and intend to come off anything except lithium. Im afraid that i will have severe mood swings when i do this but i need to get my life back, i sleep most of the day because of fatigue and i need to lose weight! any advice please? be well.

is another option which I will be doing but for ins reasons I am stuck w/ her for now so any suggestions would be appreciated also if taking lamictal what other meds (if any) are taking in combo w/ this for good results and some real stability!!!

ABILIFY is indicated for:
Use as an add-on treatment to antidepressants for Major Depressive Disorder in adults
Treatment of manic and mixed episodes associated with Bipolar I Disorder in adults and in pediatric patients 10 to 17 years of age
Treatment of Schizophrenia in adults and in adolescents 13 to 17 years of age
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:
Elderly people with psychosis related to dementia (for example, an inability to perform daily activities as a result of increased memory loss),

There has to be something else than choosing fat and sane vs. skinny and dead.
I wish the lamictal hadn't been bad for me. I am afraid to even fill my Risperidone prescription because I'm already over weight and have high risk due to my family history for diabetes and heart disease. I want to talk to my doctor about a different medicine instead.

And it sounds like it's not working for you.
I don't know what you've tried, but Abilify might be an option that tends to be weight neutral and good for the depressive side as well as the manic side. Latuda just got approval for bipolar depression, and is supposed to be weight neutral. If you haven't tried it, and depression tends to be your main problem, then Lamictal might be worth a try as well, although it will take you several months to get to the target dose.

Lamictal is pretty good, especially for bipolar depression. It also overall has one of the best side effect profiles of mood stabilizers, which is why it's a first choice for a lot of doctors when it comes to bipolar II. It's also supposed to be weight neutral. Everyone freaks out about the rash, but it's actually extremely rare (and a lot less rare than internet forums would lead you to believe--how many people spontaneously go on the internet to praise something vs. complain about it?).

I'd like to take it down to 100mg, as I'm of the mind to eventually cut out the meds entirely (I know, I know, meds are probably in my lifelong future), but we have tried a combination of other medications, such as Lamictal, Abilify, Geodon, but I seem to be VERY sensitive to side effects of everything, and after my experience with Geodon, I am seriously afraid of switching to a new medication.

I spent 12 days in a psychiatric hospital last May along with getting on medications(I've been on Celexa, Seroquel, Wellbutrin, Abilify, Lamictal, Depakote, Lithium, Metadate, and Trileptal[not all at once]), and it, while at the time I disagreed, and still somewhat do, helped. It kept me safe from harm to myself, and for a while I was stabilized. It's not a cure-all, but it is definitely a valid option, especially in your son's situation, in my opinion.

I have Bad ADHD and Bi-Polar and had unnacceptable side effects from Strattera, Paxil, Trileptal, Lamictal, Abilify, Lexapro, and Focalin. I have a low tolerance for drugs, but seem to be able to quit cold turkey with no issues from addicted drugs. Past suicidal ideation is an issue.
Everytime I take dextramathoraphine for a cough, I seem to be a little happier, can focus on work better, and don't spill my guts to all my co-workers.

Scared to take wellbutrin sr. I was on Abilify for Bipolar disorder/depression and my dr. just changed me to wellbutrin. I havent started it yet but will tomrrw & will hope I get the weight off I gained from the lexapro I was on before.

lexapro, paxil, zoloft, seroquel, lamictal, xyprexa, buspar, and welbutrin. Currently I am taking depakote er, which actually seems to be working fairly well. It makes the anxiety bareable, but doesn't do much for my depression.
However, there has always been one thing that has relieved all my symptoms; pain medications. First I would like to say something that Im sure everyone knows; these medicines are very addictive and should not be abused.

I tried Lamictal but it made me literally stupid and gave me horrible acne, then I tried Depakote but it made me like the living dead I was miserable and tired and I gained 20lbs and started losing my hair (i didnt appreciate that), currently I'm on trileptal which is great because my hair came back and my depakote weight went away but i dont think it is getting rid of my seizures so its basically useless, so now I am slowly adding topamax to my regime!

JUST BECAUSE IT HITS SOMEONE ELSE LIKE THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT WILL DO THAT TO YOU.
I AM AN EPILEPTIC THAT USED TO TAKE A MASSIVE DOSE OF LAMICTAL AND TOPAMAX, 1000 MG/DAY OF EACH ONE. I HAD BRAIN SURGERY, SEIZURES STOPPED, GOT WEANED OFF THE TOPAMAX AND CUT THE LAMICTAL WAY DOWN. EVEN ON THAT HIGH DOSE OF THE TOPAMAX, I DIDN'T LOSE MY HAIR.

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